Headlight lens



June 27, 1950 R. O. FERGUSON HEADLIGHT LENS Filed June 27, 1944 Patented June 27, 1950 HEADLIGHT LENS Robert 0. Ferguson, Bristol, Tenn., assignor of one-half to Bristol Steel & Iron Works, Inc., Bristol, Va.- Tenn., a corporation of Virginia Application June 27, 1944, Serial No. 542,264

This application relates to a headlight lamp,

preferably of the sealed beam type, wherein the source of light and the reflector are sealed within the lamp, although it is not limited to a headlight of this type.

An object of the invention is to provide a headlight lens which eliminates filament glare.

Another object is to provide a headlight lens with a, reflector positioned in the exact position of the headlight whereby upon failure of said headlight an oncoming car will be apprized of the position of the car.

Another object of the invention is to provide a headlight lens which picks up and reflects light produced from an oncoming car to the driver of the same.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a headlight lens having an additional reflector which increases the light projected from the primary reflector.

Other objects will appear hereinafter throughout the specification as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in vertical section of one form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a similar view but showing a modification of the device disclosed in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figures 1 and 2 but showing an additional modification, and

Figure 4 is a partial front elevation of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2.

This'invention is particularly of value in a case where one of the headlights fails for any reason. In such a case heretofore it has been impossible to determine which of the headlights has failed. Consequently many accidents have been caused by reason of the fact that the driver of a car driving from the opposite direction has been unable to determine the position of the car due to the fact that one of the headlights had failed and because it was impossible to determine which light had failed.

Referring to the drawings numeral I represents a headlight f the modern type casing, i. e., where the bulb or filament (not herein shown) and the reflector have been hermetically sealed within the casing defined by the numeral l. The numeral 2 represents the inside back portion of the casing and it may be suitably silvered to provide a reflecting surface. The lens, indicated at 3, is provided at its center with a secondary lens portion 4, preferably of clear glass, having a convex outer surface 5 and a convex rear surface 6. The rear convex surface has a coating of silvered or other reflecting material I, said reflect- 4 Claims. (Cl. 24041.35)

ing material being reflective on both sides thereof so as to reflect rays from the primary reflector 2 and to reflect rays from the light source back to the primary reflector 2 and to reflect rays passing through the secondary lens portion 4 from an oncoming car which impinges on the front surface of the reflecting material I.

In order to provide a construction whereby to secure a greater concentration of light rays from the primary reflector 2 to the road surface while at the same time securing the benefits of the present invention, the construction illustrated in Figure 2 is provided. As illustrated la is the rear wall of the sealed casing and 2a the primary reflector, forming the forward sealed-in surface of the rear wall of said casing.

The front part of the casing has the usual lens 3a. This lens is provided with a secondary lens to having a forward convex surface 5a and a rear convex surface 6a.

The numeral la indicates a silvered or other reflecting portion which covers the convex surface to. In the present instance, however, only the concave or inner surface of said reflector requires that it be of reflecting material and the rear convex surface may be opaque by painting or otherwise. This opaque material indicated at 8 may be cementitious in character so as to support the supporting member represented by the numeral 9.

This supporting member is of double concave contour and is provided with a forward concave surface it) and a rear surface H having a reflecting surface also of concave curvature 12.

As will be noted by reference to Figure 2, rays of light l3 projecting in a forward direction strike the concave reflector l2 where they are reflected back at a converging angle until they reach the axis l4 and then they appear to diverge until they reach the primary reflector 2a. After striking the primary reflector, the rays are projected forwardly, as at i5, and added to the directly reflected rays projected by the primary reflecting surface 2a.

Should the source of light fail the projected rays from the headlights of an oncoming car will be reflected back to the eyes of the driver of such car by the reflector la.

The construction illustrated in Figure 3 includes a headlight casing lb having a primary reflector 2b and the usual lens 3b.

This third form of the invention is particularly adapted for a headlight of non-sealed-in character and it iscontemplated that the lens 317 may be readily detached from the casing lb by suitable means not shown. The center of the lens is rovided with an aperture for the reception of a reflecting unit l1 having a, forward flange l8 and a rearward flange IS, the latter of which may be of such material that it can be spun or otherwise bent to the position wherein both flanges l8 and I9 are in tight engagement with the lens portion adjacent to the aperture 18.

The secondary lens unit is provided with a secondary lens b which is retained by the flange l8 forming part of the reflecting unit, which flange is spun over the lens to retain the same in position.

Rearwardly of the lens is a reflector 25 of suitable type which may be similar to the reflectors I or To and which would therefore be a material which would be supported by the rear convex portion of the lens 5b, said convex portion being similar in general shape to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The rear portion of the reflecting unit is provided with one or more arms 20 which extend rearwardly' and are rigidly supported in fixed position on rear reflectonlzb. This is a metal reflector and because of the fact that it occupies the same position in the construction of Figure 3 that the reflector I2 occupies in the construction shown in Figure 2, rays of light from the source within the light casing are reflected in the same manner as shown and described with reference to Figure 2.

It will be appreciated that the construction shown in the several figures provides an "emergency light by means of the reflectors mounted in the main lenses of the headlights. Very often the occupant of a car is unaware for some time of the fact that one of the headlights of the car which he is driving has burned out. Other individuals are neglectful in replacing a burned out bulb, by the provision in the present invention, however, in the event one of the lights has burned out for any reason, the driver of an oncoming car can tell the exact position of the car because of the fact that one of thelights is still burning and there is a reflection back to him of light from his ownalight in the exact position of the second headlight of the approaching car.

It will be further appreciated that the present invention is of advantage where the driver of a car through negligence neglects to put on his headlights or due to the fact that his light system is burned out. 1 Under such circumstances neither light will be lit. The reflectors because of the fact they are located in both headlight lenses will warn the driver of an oncoming car of the presence of a car approaching in the opposite direction.

It is to be understood that although there has been shown a device of the present invention mounted in the center of the main lens, and this is the preferred form of the invention, I do not wish to be limited to this construction as one or more lenses similar to that shown in the figures may be placed adjacent to the perimeter of the lens, or in fact any position on said lens. In this event the form of the invention used would probably be that illustrated in Figure 1 for the reason that the reflector 6 is of convex curvature and any rays directed to it would be reflected back to different portions of the primary reflector 2.

It is to be understood that the drawings and description are to be used in an illustrative sense rather than a limited sense and that I desire to be limited in the practice of this invention only as defined by the claims.

What is claimed 18:

- 1. In a headlight provided with a primary reflector and a primary forwardly facing lens, a secondary lens centrally located in said primary lens, said secondary lens having at least one convex surface and a forwardly facing reflecting surface whereby upon failure of a, source of illumination projecting light through said primary lens by means of said primary reflector, said forwardly facing reflecting surface will reflect back light from the lights of an on-coming car and warn the driver thereof: of the position of approach of a, car provided with said headlight, and said secondary lens having a rearwardly facing reflecting surface whereby some of the rays of light from said source of illumination are reflected back to said primary reflector and thence from said primary reflector through said primary forwardly facing lens.

2. In a headlight provided with a primary reflector and a primary forwardlyfacing lens, a secondary lens centrally located in said primary lens, said secondary lens having at least one convex surface and a forwardly facingreflecting surface whereby upon failure of a source of illumination projecting light through said primary lens by means of said primary reflector, said forwardly facing reflecting surface will reflect back light from the lights of an on-coming car and warn the driver thereof of the position of approach of a car provided with said headlight, a supporting member attached to said forwardly facing reflecting surface, said supporting member having a rearwardly facing reflecting surface whereby some of the rays of light from said source of illumination are reflected bacl: to said primary reflector and thence from said primary reflector through said primary facing lens.

3. In a headlight, a hermetically sealed casing having a rear wall and a forward wall, a primary concave reflecting surface formed on the front sealed-in surface of the rear wall, said forward wall having a clear convex portion facing forwardly and forming the greater area of its. surface, said forward wall supporting a sealed-in secondary forwardly facing reflecting surface whereby upon failure of a source of illumination projecting light through said clear portion, said secondary reflecting surface will reflect back light from the lights of an oncoming car and warn the driver thereof of the position Of approach of a car provided with said headlight, and a rearwardly facing reflecting surface in juxtaposed position to said secondary reflecting surface, said rearwardly facing reflecting surface and said secondary reflecting surface having convex portions which face each other and a supporting member for said rear-wardly facing reflecting surface, said supporting member spacing said convex portions from each other.

4. In a headlight, a hermetically sealed casing having a rear wall and a forward wall, a primary concave reflecting surface formedon the front sealed-in surface of the rear wall, said forward wall having a clear convex portion facing forwardly and forming the greater area of its surface, said forward wall supporting a sealed-in secondary forwardly facing reflecting surface whereby upon failure of a source of illumination projecting light through said clear portion by means of said primary reflecting surface, said secondary reflecting surface will reflect back light from the lights of an on-coming car and warn the driver thereof of the position of approach of a car provided with said headlight and a rearwardly facing reflecting surface in juxtaposed position to said secondary reflecting surface, said rearwardly facing reflecting surface being a con-- cave surface and of reverse curvature to said primary concave reflecting surface, and said secondary reflecting surface being a concave surface.

ROBERT O. FERGUSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file of this patent:

6 UNITED STATES m'rrm'rs Number Name Date Warrick June 5, 1923 McElroy Dec. 16, 1924 Goddard Apr. 24, 1928 Nikonow Mar. 1, 1932 Sharp Oct. 13, 1936 Taylor Dec. 15, 1936 James Jan. 12, 1937 Ralph Dec. 21, 1987 Condon Apr. 12, 1998v Grimes -1-.." June 14, 1938 Munroe et a1 June 23, 1942 

